The invertebrate fauna of grassland and its influence on productivity. III. Effects on soil fertility and plant growth

Curry, James

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2494.1987.tb02121.x

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…In our study, the abundance of pollinators, such as hoverflies or bees, was higher in the areas with higher percentages of forbs and higher number of flowers, in agreement with previous studies which concluded that high numbers of flowers and percentages of forbs are potentially favorable to pollinators 26,27 . A combination of management strategies which contribute to the conservation of both fauna and flora communities is essential where flower-visiting insects are crucial for the pollination of plant species such as legumes 28 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of management on foliage-dwelling arthropods and dynamics within permanent pastures

García

Fraser

2019

Sci Rep

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The restoration of biodiversity within previously improved grasslands is an important objective worldwide. In some areas farmers receive remuneration for using specific strategies but the environmental responses to them are still uncertain. This study explored the short and long-term impacts of sheep grazing and/or hay cutting on arthropod foliage communities and flora within Welsh upland permanent pastures (UK). We measured arthropod abundance and diversity plus sward surface height, flower numbers and percentage of forbs and grasses. Data were collected during summer; twice before hay cutting and once shortly after. Total arthropod abundance was higher in grazed plots (due to Symphypleona flourishing) and family richness in hay cut plots, but taxa-specific responses occurred. Short-term effects reflected phenological changes (e.g. in Symphypleona or Cantharidae) and arthropod reductions after hay cut, when mostly Diptera remained. Arthropod communities were more abundant and diverse in flower-rich and forb-dominated plots managed by hay cutting and by hay cutting with aftermath grazing, although certain groups flourished in grazed only grass-dominated plots. The two managements based on a hay cut provided more heterogeneous environmental conditions than other management treatments, and these supported more diverse arthropod communities. The results make a valuable addition to the evidence base on which to base future land use policy at a time when trade-offs between agricultural production and nature conservation are under scrutiny across Europe.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of management on foliage-dwelling arthropods and dynamics within permanent pastures

García

Fraser

2019

Sci Rep

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“…Interviene en los procesos edáficos de dos maneras, directamente por la modificación física de los residuos y del suelo e indirectamente a través de las interacciones con la comunidad microbiana (González et al 2001). Los invertebrados de mayor tamaño (ancho del cuerpo mayor a 2 mm), constituyen la macrofauna, que se destaca porque su actividad tiene efectos en la fertilidad y estructura del suelo, en la infiltración y determina la actividad de los organismos más pequeños (Curry 1987b, Curry & Good, 1992.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Evaluación de la macrofauna del suelo en rotaciones cultivos-pasturas con laboreo convencional

Zerbino

2010

AZM

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Los invertebrados que habitan el suelo son actores importantes en los procesos edáficos. La fauna edáfica comprende a organismos con tamaños y estrategias adaptativas diferentes. Los de mayor tamaño, constituyen la macrofauna (ancho del cuerpo mayor a 2 mm), que se destaca porque directa o indirectamente afectan las propiedades del suelo. Las comunidades presentes son la consecuencia de las prácticas de manejo de suelo que se realizan, por lo que tienen gran potencial de uso como indicadores. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de diferentes sistemas de rotación cultivos-pasturas sobre las comunidades de la macrofauna del suelo. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: agricultura continua sin (S1) y con fertilización (S2), rotación agricultura 33% - pradera 66% (S4), rotación agricultura 50% - pradera 50% (S5), y rotación agricultura 66% - pradera 33% (S7). El número de individuos varió de acuerdo a la intensidad de los usos del suelo evaluados. Los tratamientos S1 y S4 tuvieron respectivamente, las menores y mayores densidades poblacionales de la mayoría de los taxones. El análisis de Co-Inercia entre las propiedades edáficas y la densidad fue significativo. El primer eje ordenó los usos del suelo de acuerdo a su intensidad. Los taxones Oligochaeta y Coleoptera adultos estuvieron asociados a S4, sistema con mayor cantidad de carbono orgánico y nitrógeno total. La evaluación de la macrofauna del suelo conjuntamente con las propiedades del mismo, es una herramienta útil para evaluar la sustentabilidad ambiental de los distintos usos del suelo.

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“…Conservation of the soil macrofauna may help keep land productive longer because these organisms maintain nutrient cycling and decomposition processes and modify the physical properties of soil (de Bruyn & Conacher 1990; Lavelle et al 1997; Ekschmitt & Griffiths 1998). It is already known that soil macrofauna, and earthworms in particular, can lead to dramatic change in soil properties and plant productivity, especially in acid soils that often have low amounts of organic matter (Curry 1987; Lavelle et al 1994; Chauvel et al 1999). Little is known, however, about the recovery potential of soil macrofauna after forest clearance in Amazonia, especially in smallholder farming systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of Soil Macrofauna Communities after Forest Clearance in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

Mathieu

Rossi

Mora

et al. 2005

Conservation Biology

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As primary forest is cleared, pastures and secondary forest occupy an increasing space in the Amazonian landscape. We evaluated the effect of forest clearing on a soil macrofauna (invertebrate) community in a smallholder farming system of southeastern Amazonia. We sampled the soil macrofauna in 22 plots of forest, upland rice fields, pastures, and fallows of different ages. In total, we collected 10,728 invertebrates. In cleared plots the species richness per plot of the soil macrofauna fell from 76 to 30 species per plot immediately after forest clearance, and the composition of the new community was different. Ants, termites, and spiders were most affected by the disturbance. In plots deforested several years before, the effect of forest clearance was highly dependent on the type of land use (pasture or fallow). In fallows, the community was similar to the initial state. The species richness per plot in old fallows rose to 66, and the composition was closer to the primary forests than to the other types of land use. On the contrary, in the pastures the species richness per plot remained low at 47. In fallows, all the groups showed a richness close to that in primary forest, whereas in the forest only the richness of earthworms and Coleoptera recovered. Our results show that forest clearing constitutes a major disturbance for the soil macrofauna and that the recovery potential of the soil macrofauna after 6 or 7 years is much higher in fallows than in pastures. Thus, fallows may play a crucial role in the conservation of soil macrofauna.Resumen: A medida que el bosque es talado, los pastizales y la vegetación secundaria cada vez ocupan más espacio en el paisaje Amazónico. Evaluamos el efecto de la tala del bosque sobre una comunidad de macrofauna (invertebrados) del suelo en un sistema agrícola de pequeña propiedad en el sureste de la Amazonía. Muestreamos la macrofauna en 22 parcelas de bosque campos de arroz, pastizales y barbechos de diferentes edades. En total, recolectamos 10,728 invertebrados. En parcelas taladas, la riqueza de especies de macrofauna del suelo por parcela disminuyó de 76 a 30 especies por parcela inmediatamente después de que el bosque fue talado, y la composición de la comunidad nueva fue diferente. Las hormigas, termitas y arañas fueron las más afectadas por la perturbación. El efecto de la tala del bosque fue altamente dependiente del tipo de uso de suelo (pastizal o barbecho) en las parcelas deforestadas varios años antes. En los barbechos, la comunidad fue similar al estado inicial. La riqueza de especies por parcelas en los barbechos viejos se elevó a 66, y la composición fue más cercana a la de bosques primarios que a la de los otros tipos de uso de suelo. Por Mathieu et al. Soil Macrofauna after Forest Clearance 1599 contrario, la riqueza de especies por parcela en pastizales permaneció baja en 47. En los barbechos, todos los grupos mostraron una riqueza similar a la del bosque primario, mientras que en el bosque solo se recuperó la riqueza de lombrices y Coleópteros. Nuestro...

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The invertebrate fauna of grassland and its influence on productivity. III. Effects on soil fertility and plant growth

Abstract: The effects of grassland invertebrates on organic matter decomposition, soil fertility and plant growth are reviewed. Their role as primary decomposers is limited because of relatively low rates of metabolic and enzymatic activity compared with microorganisms.

Cited by 19 publications

References 115 publications

Impact of management on foliage-dwelling arthropods and dynamics within permanent pastures

Impact of management on foliage-dwelling arthropods and dynamics within permanent pastures

Evaluación de la macrofauna del suelo en rotaciones cultivos-pasturas con laboreo convencional

Recovery of Soil Macrofauna Communities after Forest Clearance in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

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